Fletcher, Pippen named preseason All-MVC
10/18/2018 | 8:26:00 | Men's Basketball
The Southern Illinois men's basketball team was picked third in the preseason Missouri Valley Conference poll, the league announced Thursday. SIU seniors Armon Fletcher (first team) and Kavion Pippen (second team) were named to the preseason All-MVC teams.
The Salukis are the only team in the MVC to return all five starters from last season. SIU returns its top four scorers -- Fletcher (14.1 ppg), Pippen (12.1 ppg), Sean Lloyd, Jr. (12.1 ppg) and Aaron Cook (9.8 ppg) -- from last season's 20-win team that finished second in the league. In all, the Salukis return 83 percent of scoring and 77 percent of rebounding from last year's team. Southern also returns Thik Bol (2016-17 MVC All-Defensive Team) and Eric McGill, who missed last year due to season-ending injuries.Â
Fletcher was named first-team All-District and second-team All-MVC after leading the Salukis in scoring last year. Fletcher has averaged double-figures in each of the last two seasons and is just 52 points away from becoming Southern's 46th 1,000-point scorer.Â
Pippen was a third-team All-MVC selection last year and was also a member of the league's All-Newcomer team. He started all 33 games and led the team in rebounding (5.9 rpg), blocks (45) and field-goal percentage (.551). He was a four-time MVC Newcomer of the Week in 2017-18 after transferring to SIU from Three Rivers Community College.Â
Loyola was picked to win the league over Illinois State. Southern Illinois received four first-place votes and was picked third.Â
2018-19 MVC Preseason Team
School (First-Place Votes)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Total
1. Loyola (29)..................................... 410
2. Illinois State (10)............................ 374
3. Southern Illinois (4)......................362
4. Bradley........................................... 305
5. UNI................................................. 248
6. Indiana State.................................. 210
7. Valparaiso...................................... 173
8. Missouri State................................ 125
9. Drake............................................... 92
10. Evansville......................................... 66
Poll determined by panel of league sports information directors, media, and coaches
FIRST TEAM
Jordan Barnes, INS     G   5-11   Jr.     St. Louis (Mo.) Christian Brothers High
Clayton Custer, LUC    G    6-1   Sr.     Overland Park (Kan.) Blue Valley NW
Phil Fayne, ILS       F    6-8   Sr.     Elk Grove (Calif.) Franklin High
Armon Fletcher, SIU   G    6-5   Sr.     Edwardsville (Ill.) High
Milik Yarbrough, ILS    G    6-6   Sr.     Zion (Ill.) Zion-Benton Township
SECOND TEAM
Darrell Brown, BRAD   G   5-10   Jr.     Memphis (Tenn.) Germantown
Keyshawn Evans, ILS  G    6-0   Sr.     Plantation (Fla.) The Sagemount School
Cameron Krutwig, LUC C    6-9   So.    Algonquin (Ill.) Jacobs
Kavion Pippen, SIU     C   6-10  Sr.     Hamburg (Ark.) Three Rivers CC
Marques Townes, LUC G    6-4   Sr.     Edison (N.J.) St. Joseph
Preseason Player of the Year:Â Clayton Custer, Loyola
Team determined by panel of league SIDs, media, and coaches.
